Indiana home inspector shows support beam issues

What Is A Home Inspection?

A home  inspection is essentially a “visual snapshot” of a home’s condition as it exists at the time of the inspection, and that condition is described in a comprehensive written report.

A home  inspection report consists of a non-invasive physical examination of a home’s systems, structures and components intended to identify material defects that exist at the time of the inspection.

The heating and cooling equipment is activated along with operating plumbing fixtures, testing accessible electrical outlets and fixtures, and operating a representative sampling of doors and windows. A visual inspection of the roof, crawl spaces, walls and drainage adjacent to the home are included.

An inspection is NOT any of the following:

A code inspection,
An FHA/VA inspection
An appraisal,
A pest control certification,
A warranty
An insurance policy

Simply put, we can only inspect what we can see! We, as home inspectors can’t pull back insulation, pull back carpeting or linoleum, walk two story or unsafe roof surfaces or clear a path to the receptacles in a room, remove ceiling tiles, move furniture or open windows that are blocked by furniture ,therefore, a home inspection is non-exhaustive and even though we are very detailed in what we do some components and systems of the home may be concealed.

We suggest that before you actually close on a home, you take a walk through of the home right before closing to make sure no situations have changed and we provide you a home inspection checklist to help you get the job done.

Certainty Home Inspection provides a quality home inspection service  that serves, Bedford, Seymour, Clarksville, Jeffersonville, New Albany, Sellersburg, Louisville, Paoli, Salem, Corydon, Madison.  At Certainty, it is our goal to provide you with a quality home inspection report.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Home Inspections So Good…They’re Guaranteed!

At Certainty Home Inspections, we offer a simple, no weasel words guarantee.  Attend your Indiana home inspection and if for any reason you’re not satisfied with the “Quality” of the home inspection service, tell the inspector before receiving your report and we’ll either make it right, or you don’t pay the home inspection fee! Please know that in the case of an ongoing complaint, no refunds will be issued after one year from the date of service.

How Can We Guarantee Our Inspections?

It’s easy.  We find more defects than our competition.  The end result is that you save more money.  Most contracts allow negotiations with the seller to make repairs or give you credit at closing.  So the more defects our inspector finds the more money you save.

We are a  multi-inspector firm with three licensed home inspectors.  This allows us time to do a thorough inspection of your new home.  This also means we charge a little more than most of our competitors.

You don’t want a cheap inspection.  A cheap inspection may be the most expensive thing  you’ll ever buy, it may cost you thousands of dollars down the road because of missed or overlooked defects.  Cheap inspectors often know less and do less, which is one reason why they’re cheap.

The More Thorough We Are, The More Defects We Find, The More Money You Save!

Home Inspection Guarantee – How Can We Possibly Promise This?

We take the time to do a thorough home inspection, write a detailed home inspection report with digital photos, and deliver the BEST SERVICE possible to you. And we know that once you have seen our  work, that you will be completely satisfied.

Important Propane Gas Information

When heating your home on a cold winters night in Indiana or Kentucky, if you smell gas follow these instructions:

1. No flames or sparks, immediately put out all smoking materials and other open flames.   Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones, or cell phones.

2.  Leave the area immediately.  Get everyone out of the building or area where you suspect gas is leaking

3.  Shut off the gas.  Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank.  If it is safe to do so.  To close the valve, turn it to the right, clockwise.

4.  Report the leak.  from a neighbor’s home , call your propane retailer right away.  If your can’t reach your propane retailer, call 911 or local fire department.

5.  Do not return to the building or area until your propane retailer, emergency responder, or qualified service technician determines that it is safe to do so.

6.  Get your system checked.  Before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances have your propane retailer check the system for leaks.

Propane smells like rotten eggs, a skunk’s spray, or a dead animal.

If you have questions regarding your gas furnace or hot water and need an inspection done, please give us a call toll free at 1-866-417-9591. We serve New Albany, Jeffersonville, Clarksville, Louisville, Bedford, Seymour, Corydon, and Floyd Knobs.

Trees As Windbreaks

The biggest and most energy efficient air conditioner and heat assistant is a tree.  A tree provides windbreaks and can keep it cooler in the summer and make it easier to heat in the winter.  A little care taken in the choice of trees and their placement can result in savings when you pay the bills.  Evergreen trees such as pines and cedars are the most efficient blocking the wind.  Trees slow the wind by up to 15 times the height of the windbreak.  Homeowners can save as much as 25 percent on their heating bills with a windbreak on the north side of the house.  Windbreaks on the north and west sides can result in a 33 percent savings.  A row of trees running from southwest to northeast will be the best windbreak since winds usually blow from the northwest.  Hardwood trees are most effective on the east, west, and south sides of your home.  Trees should be planted far away enough that their roots will not damage the foundation. Certainty provides thorough home inspections in the Southern Indiana and Louisville area. We offer 1/2 price on any second home inspection.

To book your inspection today call Certainty Home Inspections at 1-866-417-9591.

How Temperature Affects Your Inspection!

Heating & air conditioning operation

The heating system may not be tested at the time of inspection if temperature conditions do not allow the system to be operated normally (during warm weather months we will not operate the heating system)  Sytems are not dimantled.  The system type(forced air, hydronic, convection) and fuel type (gas, oil, electric) will be reported.  The operating status of the heating system can change over a period of time.  To assure operating status has not changed since date of inspection, we recommend operating the heating system prior to closing, weather permitting.  Central air conditioning systems will not be  operated unless the outside temperature has been above 65 degrees F for at least 72 hours prior to the inspection.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps are operated in their current operating mode only.  Due to possible damage of equipment we are not able to test heat pumps in both modes.  Above 65 degrees for a period of 72 hours, we test in the cooling mode.  Below 65 degrees F, we test in the heating mode.

Heating and cooling inspections are visual and operational.  Weather permitting, we will operate either the heating or AC units in their respective modes.  We will use normal controls and evaluate how well the system is performing its intended function.  Taking into consideration the age of the system, it may need maintenance and repairs in the future and upgrading of the system.  There are some very efficient and economical systems on the market at the time, which may save a great deal on future fuel bills.

The  view of the heat exchanger is very limited due to the design of concealed areas.  A complete evaluation can only be achieved by dismantling the unit, which is beyond the scope of an inspection.